Saga of Second Bests #8

‘Let’s Have a Party’– Winifred Atwell, 21/01/1954

Let’s have a party! How can’t we? This shimmying bit of ragtime has enough of a boogie-woogie flavour to make Jools Holland wet himself. A version I found is very tinny, making it sound like an ice cream van blaring through an estate, so that is another positive. 

The first part of the medley is much more upbeat, the sort of thing to get your shoes shuffling in the Coronation Hall. The second part is slower and more considered, replete with pauses and a guitar line that shit me up when it first chimed in, chirping like a jumping plumber. Neither part is as jaunty as their chart-topping sequel, ‘Let’s Have Another Party’, but they have enough character and bounce as they are.

Should it be silver?

‘Oh Mein Papa’ is back at the top, and it still hasn’t grown on me. Nothing grabs me in it: not the warbling vocals, nor the trumpet, nor the sudden appearance of a fusty organ. Winifred all the way this week!

Rating

3 hootenannies out of 5

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